The Kwakwaka'wakw Nation

Gila Kasla!

The Kwakwaka'wakw are made up of many tribes. There was once a single tribe and it was said that this tribe split and grew into many more tribes. The different villages of the Kwakwaka'wakw each have four different clans which the people are born into, but each family also has its own crest. Ownership was not individual but rather family-oriented. It was also thought of differently. Ownership of land was more like family rights than possession. With these rights came responsibility. The rich resources of the Kwakwaka'wakw had to (and still have to) be looked after so they would remain bountiful. The northern Nations share many features in their art style, but the Kwakwaka'wakw are considered explorers because they do not conform exactly to the art rules. Innovation in Kwakwaka'wakw art is an ongoing tradition.